The Nation Newspaper

Tag: suspected cultists

  • Suspected cultists kill one at Maryland

    Residents of Ogodo Valley at Mende, Maryland, Lagos, were thrown into panic on Sunday night, as four gunmen suspected to be cultists, killed one man and injured two children.

    Eyewitnesses told The Nation that the victim, simply identified as Dare Atlanta, who sold Indian hemp, was hanging out with his friends at the valley when he received a call from his killers, who pretended to be his customers, around 9pm.

    It was learnt that the victim headed for Atiba Osbourne Street, Mende, Maryland, to meet them and he was immediately shot in the head.

    In a bid to escape, the killers reportedly shot sporadically, injuring a boy and a girl, who were hit by stray bullets.

    The body was removed by a police patrol team from Anthony Division.

    An officer, who preferred anonymity, said yesterday that investigation was on to establish the motive behind the killing, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest the killers.

    A resident said the killing might have been connected to a recent clash among suspected cultists from Mende and Ojota.

     

  • Suspected cultists face theft charge

    SEVEN  men suspected to be members of a cult yesterday appeared at a Badagry Magistrates’ Court  for alleged stealing,   weapons display and breach of the peace.

    Ojo  Jimoh, 27, Taiwo Jimoh, 21, Hammed Adebayo, 22, Adeniyi Abass, 18, Michael Segun, 18, and two minors were said to have conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace on February 24 at Shibiri, Ajangbadi, Lagos.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akpan Ikem  alleged that the accused stole one Itel P31 phone valued at N37,000, Techno W1 valued at N17,000 and N15,700 cash belonging to Anthonia Emeka.

    Magistrate Patrick Adekomaya granted the accused N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    He said the sureties must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on April 4.

  • Residents cry out as suspected cultists resume attack

    Residents of Agege area of Lagos State and its environs have appealed to the police to rescue them from attacks by cultists suspected to be Awawa Boys.

    These hoodlums, whose insignia is said to be a tattoo of tear drops, our correspondent gathered, have resumed their reign of terror for about two months now.

    The Nation learnt that the group that was hitherto alienated by police operatives, who infiltrated their ranks in Agege, Isolo, Ipaja, Ikeja and Ikotun areas of Lagos, recently resurfaced, vandalising and looting people’s homes and shops.

    Some of the residents took to social media to raise the alarm on the activities of the gang, appealing to security agencies to assist them.

    It was gathered that over 100 members of the gang last Monday went on the rampage along Dopemu Road, robbing and assaulting commuters.

    A man, who posted the incident on social media, said the hoodlums launched the attack around 8:30pm.

    He said: “Commuters in traffic were robbed of their phones, wallets and cash. Some were beaten mercilessly. Lagos has gone to the dogs!”

    Corroborating his claims, one Simbiat said the hoodlums had been operating unabated for three years, adding that they walked in group, including girls, and were dangerous.

    But the police dismissed claims by the residents that the cultists had resumed attack, insisting that the “clandestine cult has since been dislodged.”

    Spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), told our correspondent that the group was hibernating, adding that the command would not hesitate to match them force for force should they resume their violence.

    He said: “The command in the past arrested a lot of them and they were arraigned. They are no more there, but we are still watching the area. We are ready for them anytime they want to resume violence. We will match them. We have a tab on them and our sources are on ground.

    “There has been no recent attack or incident in the axis. Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has ordered the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to be on the alert at all times.”

     

     

  • Suspected cultists kill eight in Edo

    The ongoing cult war between Aye and Eiye confraternities has led to the killing of eight persons in Benin City, the Edo State capital, and its environs in the last three days.

    On Monday night, an undergraduate identified as John Terry was killed at Upper Uwa Street, off Murtala Muhammed Way, Benin City.

    Sources said he was engaged as a polling agent to one of the parties for the February 16 botched elections.

    Eyewitnesses said Terry was beaten to death with rods and sticks by his assailants.

    A father of four identified as Africa was yesterday morning hacked to death at Aifuwa junction after gunshots did not penetrate his body.

    The body of Africa was dumped at the Central Hospital mortuary.

    At Three House area at Upper Sokponba, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, traders and shop owners scampered for safety as suspected cultists robbed passers-by and shot into the air.

    Two boys belonging to a rival cult were shot dead.

    A pharmaceutical shop owner, who pleaded anonymity, said over 20 persons ran into his shop when the shooting started.

    He said they laid on the floor to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

    The source said traders in the area, since Sunday, closed shops around 7:30pm.

    Said he: “I was inside my shop when I received a call that I should lock my shop and go home because the area was about to be attacked. As I stood up to tell my boys to lock up, I saw people running into my store to take refuge.

    “All of us were on the floor while shootings were on. We later heard that many people were robbed, while two boys were killed.”

    Another witness said policemen later came to the area and arrested innocent persons.

    On Sunday night, the manager of the hotel owned by ex-Super Eagles player Osaze Odemwingie, Osato Okunkpolor, was killed by suspected cultists, who engaged in a shootout.

    Last December, Governor Godwin Obaseki unveiled a new security outfit called “Operation Wabaizigan” (Stop All Bad Things). It was equipped with 30 Hilux Vans, 50 patrol vehicles having communications gadgets, two APC vehicles and motorcycles.

    Command spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor said the police have set up security measures to ensure Benin City is safe.

    He said it was too early to condemn the new security outfit, urging residents to be patient, as the focus was on the general election.

    A security source said the renewed killings since last Saturday were linked to the money released by parties for the now postponed elections.

     

  • Suspected cultists face assault charge

    Five men, suspected to be members of a cult, yesterday appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly using cutlasses to injure a guard.

    Ojo Funmilayo, 32; Samson Thomas, 22; Ahmed Suleiman, 21;  Matthew James, 20; and Sunday Joseph, 19, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society and assault.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Godwin Oriabure said the accused committed the offence last December 24 at 9:30am at Olusosun dump site, Ojota, Lagos.

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    He alleged that the accused beat up and injured the guard, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed, who told them to stop roaming the dump site.

    “The accused used cutlasses to beat up the complainant and injure him,” Oriabure said.

    Magistrate Oluwatoyin Ojuromi granted the accused N100,000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    She said the sureties should be above 40 years and show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on February 26.

  • Three suspected cultists nabbed for murder in Anambra

    THREE persons were on Friday, arrested by the police for allegedly killing a 26-year old man, Dominic Njem, in Ihialla, Anambra State.

    The suspects, said to be members of a cult group, reportedly inflicted several machete cuts on their victim’s body until he became unconscious.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased was rushed to a nearby hospital in the area after which he  was certified dead by the medical doctor on duty.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the arrest, saying the corpse had been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

    He said the suspects were arrested by Police detectives attached to Ihiala division following intelligence report. He gave the suspects’ names as Chidubem Ejezie, a.k.a Santana, Arinze Azubuike Adigwe and Chijioke Onu. Mohammed said, “The victim was rushed to our lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala by police patrol team who visited the scene but he was certified dead by the medical doctor while receiving treatment. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to a cult group known as Aiye Confraternity.” He said the suspects would be charged to after investigations are concluded.

  • Three suspected cultists nabbed over murder in Anambra

    Three persons were on yesterday, arrested by the police for allegedly killing a 26-year old man, Dominic Njem, in Ihialla, Anambra State.

    The suspects, said to be members of a cult group, reportedly inflicted several machete cuts on the deceased body until he became unconscious.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased was rushed to a nearby hospital in the area where he was certified dead by the medical doctor on duty.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the arrest, saying the corpse had been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

    He said the suspects were arrested by the Police detectives attached to Ihiala division following intelligence report.

    He gave their names as Chidubem Ejezie, a.k.a Santana, Arinze Azubuike Adigwe and Chijioke Onu.

    Mohammed said, “Victim was rushed to our lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala by Police Patrol team who visited the scene but he was certified dead by the medical doctor while receiving treatment.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to a cult group known as Aiye Confraternity.”

    He said the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution after investigations were concluded.

  • Suspected cultists ‘kill’ gas station manager 

    …Three arrested  

    Residents of Odogunyan, Odokekere, Agodo Segun and Odonla areas of Ikorodu, Lagos, have lamented the invasion of their communities by suspected cultists.

    They alleged that there have been resumed cult activities in the last three weeks, which has led to the death of a gas station manager identified as Kamarudeen Elegbede alias Oosa.

    Elegbede, The Nation gathered, was whisked off his place of work by cultists, who accused him of rescuing a young man shot three weeks ago.

    It was learnt that a resident of Odogunyan was shot in the leg during a gun battle between members of Aiye and Eiye cults.

    Elegbede was said to have taken the gunshot victim to a place where he was treated and the bullet removed from his leg, which angered the cultists.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums later came for him, killed him and dismembered his body before dumping the parts on the road.

    A source said the cultists had made life unbearable for people in the communities since then, adding that they usually went from house to house robbing people.

    He said: “I took my children to their grandmother at Odogunyan. When I later visited her, she advised me to take them back home, saying the area was no longer safe.

    “Although there had been cult clashes since January, peace returned after security agencies carried out patrols and operations.

    “But in the three weeks, cultists have been unleashing terror on the people.

    “They move from house to house robbing people. They demand money and valuables. They beat people up. They killed a philanthropist in the neighbourhood because he helped a young man, who was shot in the leg by the cultists.

    “He took the victim where he was treated and the cultists went to the filling station where he worked, killed and cut him into pieces.

    “Since then, people have been living in fear. The motorcycle park used to be active till midnight, but now once it is 8pm, everywhere is deserted.

    “Churches have stopped organising vigils because people don’t attend. The thing is affecting commercial and social activities. We appeal to the police and other security agencies to assist us. They should help us by arresting these cultists.”

    Police spokesman Chike Oti said it was a lie that cultists terrorised residents in that area.

    He confirmed the murder of Elegbede, who he said was a vulcaniser, but worked as a night guard at the filling station.

  • Police nab suspected cultists for robbery

    Two teenagers, suspected to be cultists, were yesterday arrested by the police for allegedly robbing a man of his phone in Awada, Obosi, Anambra State.

    The suspects, Osai Ikechukwu, 18, and Ikenna Ofonaya, 17, reportedly robbed Ofor Odinaka of Nwazike Street, Awada of his phone.

    Confirming the arrest, police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said the suspects were arrested by a patrol team attached to Awada Division, following a distress call.

    He said: “About 7:10pm, a police patrol team attached to Awada Division responded to a distress call at Gaius Street, Awada where suspected cultists were operating.

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    “The suspects allegedly robbed Ofor Odinaka, male, of Nwazike Street, Awada of his phone.”

    Mohammed said an axe, complimentary card of Supreme Vikings, Awalina and other incriminating items were recovered from the suspects.

    “The suspects have confessed to be members of Junior Vickings (JVC) cult,” he added.

    Mohammed assured that the suspects would be arraigned after investigation.

     

     

  • Police arraign suspected cultists terrorising Lagos community

    The police yesterday at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos arraigned eight men, who allegedly terrorised the public.

    They are Olarigbe Olanrewaju, 22; Moses Ademola, 23; Evans Ezikiel, 20; Taiwo Oluwasegun, 19; Ganiyu Bashiru, 21; Wasiu Balogun, 29; Sundau Omete, 24; and Tunde James, 20.

    The men were alleged to have used weapons in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace in Oke-Iranle, Ajah, Lagos.

    They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, membership of an unlawful society and unlawful display of arms in the public.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Mrs. E. Kubeinje granted them bail in the sum of N50, 000 each.

    She ordered the accused to produce two sureties each in the like sum. Kubeinje said the sureties should show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

    Prosecutor Lucky Ihiehie had told the court that the accused committed the offences on November 8 in Oke-Iranle, Ajah, Lagos about 11pm.

    He said the accused conspired as members of Eiye Confraternity and fought another group of unknown boys with weapons.

    “Innocent people sustained injuries and belongings were destroyed.

    “The accused were arrested by a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Langbasa Division, Ajah and transferred to the Anti-Cultism Unit, State CID, Yaba on November  9,” Ihiehie said.

    The case continues on December 18.